“You would make a strikingly handsome couple.” The prince put his napkin on his plate. “I approve, wholeheartedly, of making her a duchess. But, Severton, you mustn’t take this jewel to your drafty castle until we’ve all had the opportunity to enjoy her company. Do you hear me?”
The duke looked bewildered for a moment. It was the first time I’d seen his well-built façade crack. “But I must return home as soon as possible,” he said. “There is ledger work to be done, crops to manage, tenant farmers to oversee. Not to mention the work that needs to be done on the castle.”
The prince waved his hand. “Go back to Ravenscar and do what needs to be done but leave Miss Hill here. We’ve only just begun to know each other, and I will not let her go easily.”
“Your Royal Highness,” I protested. “The duke and I have only just met. He has not proposed and I have not accepted.”
“He will,” the prince said. “I’ll see it’s done before the end of the month—or even the end of this week. At a ball he hosts, no less. You must become a duchess, my dear. But I will not let him take you away.”
I glanced at the duke and then caught Alec’s eye. He was sitting on the other side of the table, close enough that he could hear our conversation. I thinkeveryoneheard our conversation, as the noise in the room quieted.
It was hard to read Alec’s expression, but I sensed that he wanted to be anywhere else but here.
And I wanted to join him.
The prince left after the meal ended and the guests slowly took their leave, as well. The whole event was a magnificent success, with the prince asking when we would receive him again.
Finally, it was just the duke left. He had silently waited, and when the others were gone, Aunt Maude and Lady Mandeville made an excuse to go into the front drawing room and Alec said good night and went upstairs.
For the first time, the duke and I were completely alone together.
“Thank you for the evening,” the duke said to me as we stood near the door.
“I want to apologize for the prince’s comments—”
“There’s no need.” He interrupted me. “He was not wrong. I am in need of a duchess, and I would like to return to Pickering Castle as soon as possible. I can’t abide playing games or wasting time. I intend to ask for your hand in marriage and there is no use pretending otherwise. But now that the prince is involved, I will be forced to host a ball, though I loathe and despise such things.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“It isn’t your fault.” He gave a slight bow. “Please be on the lookout for an invitation soon.”
“Of course.”
“Good night, Miss Hill.”
“Good night, Your Grace.”
With those final words, he left 7 Buckingham Gate.
Aunt Maude and Lady Mandeville rushed out of the drawing room, their faces aglow with success.
“Did I just hear the duke make his intentions known?” Lady Mandeville asked.
“I believe he did.”
For the first time since I’d met her, Aunt Maude cheered. It was undignified and unladylike, but it was raw and honest and full of victory.
And it made me angrier than it should have.
“Andhe’s hosting a ball!” Aunt Maude said. “Oh, how Mrs. Garfield will fume!”
As Aunt Maude and Lady Mandeville reentered the drawing room to celebrate their victory, I slowly walked up the stairs, my heart so heavy, I was afraid it might stop beating altogether.
There was a small sitting room on the second level, and it had been empty each time I’d passed it, but tonight, a light burned bright under the door.
I paused on my way to the second set of stairs that would take me to my room, almost certain I knew who I would find inside. I wanted to be with Alec, to have his reassurance, even if he had none to give. Though I knew it was incredibly foolish.
Slowly, I opened the door to the sitting room.
